Jamal Roberts, the Magnolia State’s latest American Idol winner, has released his new single, “Mississippi”—a soulful tribute to the state that shaped him featuring gospel roots blended with R&B.

The single is now available for download across all major streaming platforms, a press release from 19 Entertainment said late Thursday afternoon.

Roberts, a PE teacher at Meridian Public School’s Crestwood Elementary, won the popular nationally televised program on May 18. After becoming one of the top 3 finalists, Roberts’ hometown honored him with a homecoming parade on May 14 in downtown Meridian.

“Jamal’s moment is undeniable, his current single ‘Heal’ debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart, marking the first time an American Idol winner has ever claimed the top spot on this chart,” a July 24 press release from 19 Entertainment said. 

In “Mississippi,” Roberts sings about missing his home state:

All alone in these big cities
All those skyline views, they don’t look like you
Late nights on the road, but you’re always home
I need you to know
Oh, I’ll be missing you in Mississippi

After winning American Idol, Roberts attempted to return to work as a P.E. teacher in Meridian, but soon realized he had to give up his job as a teacher after people began showing up at the school hoping to see him.

A man sits in the back of a white convertible car with two small children as they drive through a parade of onlookers
Onlookers and fans of Jamal Roberts line 22nd Avenue in downtown Meridian, Miss., on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. The homecoming parade aired on the ABC network days later during the American Idol finale, where Roberts won the top prize. Photo by Roger Amos

In a July 24 interview with Billboard, Roberts explained his love for his home state.

“I love Mississippi. People try to get me to move, but it’s just so peaceful and just so down to earth. … My kids are in Mississippi and all my childhood memories, so when I’m singing ‘missing you In Mississippi,’ I’m not just talking about one particular place,” he said. “I’m talking about that peace, that moment, that memory. There’s a whole bunch of compassion in there.”

The release also announced that Roberts will be joining Brandy and Monica’s “The Boy is Mine” tour, which kicks off on Oct. 16 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Although there are no tour dates in the state, Mississippians who wish to see Roberts on this tour will be able to at several venues near the Magnolia State:

  • Oct. 30: FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tennessee
  • Oct. 31: State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia
  • Nov. 15: BJCC/Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama
  • Dec. 5: Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana

You can listen to “Mississippi” below.

YouTube video

Contributor Roger D. Amos is covering east-central Mississippi region as well as Chickasaw, Choctaw, and other Indigenous-related cultural events and current news topics. He is a first-generation university student who lives in Philadelphia, Miss. English is his second language after his native Choctaw, and he has picked up Spanish as his third language since high school. Roger loves to research Mississippi's state and Choctaw tribal history, and making the connections to the present day. He also like traveling to festivals, powwows, and museums.